- Date
- August 8, 1996, 07:50 local (14:50 UTC)
- Place
- Caruthers, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8598HGrumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 25, 1997
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19960808021619A
- Case key
- 29530
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the loss of engine power due to the failure of a cylinder. The road's soft surface was a factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he took off and flew for about 1/8 mile. During the flight the engine became very rough, he was unable to maintain altitude, and he made a forced landing on a dirt road. The road had a soft surface, and during rollout the airplane nosed over. The operator reported that the airplane's total time was 9,749 hours, and it was used in agricultural work. The engine had been operated for 750 hours since last being overhauled. The No. 3 cylinder head had failed upon separating from the barrel.
Factual narrative
On August 8, 1996, at 0750 hours Pacific daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N8598H, owned and operated by Kennys Crop Dusting, Inc., experienced a partial loss of engine power while cruising about 1 mile south of Caruthers, California. The pilot made a forced landing on a soft dirt road, and the airplane nosed over during rollout. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the work related (positioning) flight, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot received a minor injury. The flight originated from Caruthers at 0749.
According to the pilot, the engine became very rough after he took off and flew for about 1/8 mile. Unable to maintain altitude, the pilot made a forced landing.
According to the operator, the Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine had been operated for 750 hours since last being overhauled. The restricted category airplane had a total time of 9,749 hours, and it was used in agricultural work.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The FAA reported that the engine's No. 3 cylinder head had failed. It was found separated from the barrel.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8598H
- Reported as
- Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1429
- Airframe hours
- 9,749
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kennys Crop Dusting, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1996 · 36 hours before
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 4,000 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8598H · 4
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.